Debate begins into whether British involvement was worthwhile as Army withdraws from Iraq

BRITAIN'S war in Iraq formally ended yesterday - after six long, bloody years.

BRITAIN'S war in Iraq formally ended yesterday - after six long, bloody years.

Saddam Hussein has met the hangman but the country he brutalised is still not at peace.

And the bitter arguments over whether the conflict was right, legal or even worthwhile will rage on for decades to come.

As combat operations drew to a close, and the Army handed military responsibility for Basra to the Americans, ministers and military chiefs lined up to insist that the war had made Iraq a better place.

Anti-war campaigners poured scorn on their claims.

And both sides remembered the grim cost of the war in southern Iraq - the lives of 179 British servicemen and women, 55 troops from other nations and civilian contractors, and thousands of Iraqis.

The end of Britain's fighting role will see almost all our 3700 troops return home within weeks.

But before the flag of the 20th Armoured Brigade was lowered at their base near Basra airport, the garrison remembered all the young men and women who will never come back to their loved ones.

It took half an hour to read out the names of the dead. A memorial wall was unveiled to the victims, a bugler played Last Post and the troops bowed their heads for a minute's silence.

Defence Secretary John Hutton, who flew to Iraq for the ceremonies, said: "You have to be made of steel not to feel a very strong sense of emotion about the losses we have sustained."

After the memorial service, 20 Brigade commander Brigadier Tom Beckett handed control of the base to Colonel Butch Kievenaar of the US 4th Infantry.

Beckett insisted: "We leave knowing Basra is a better place now than in 2003." But many of his soldiers were simply relieved to know that their time in the war zone would soon be over at last.

Some British troops have completed FOUR six-month tours of duty in Iraq.

About 400 Brits will stay on, to train the Iraqi navy and guard oil installations.

Many others will soon be in Afghanistan, trying to turn the tide against the Taliban.

The marathon Iraq campaign - longer than either of the World Wars - dragged on for 2235 days and cost the British taxpayer more than £6billion.

The Brits in the south fought bravely to bring security to the people and improve their daily lives. Major improvements were made to water and power supplies, health care and schools, and Iraqis enjoyed more freedom than they could ever have dreamed of under Saddam.

Uk forces have also been widely praised for their work to train their Iraqi allies.

But some experts say Britain never had enough troops in Basra to stem the tide of Shia Muslim insurgents that plunged the city into anarchy after the invasion.

In 2007, after losing scores of men to terror attacks, the Army were forced to pull out of the city to the airport.

And critics claim it was only a joint US and Iraqi army offensive - known as the Charge of the Knights - that finally wrested control of Basra from the Iranian-backed militias and criminal gangs.

Life in Basra has improved massively since the gunmen were defeated. But many of the locals remain desperately poor and without basic amenities, and most will be glad to see the British leave.

Despite all Iraq's continuing problems, Gordon Brown was in bullish mood yesterday as he met his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki in Downing Street.

"Today, Iraq is a success story," the Prime Minister insisted."We owe much of that to the efforts of British troops." Brown promised a long-term "partnership of equals" with Iraq and urged UK firms to do more to rebuild the country.

And Maliki, while admitting his nation still faced major challenges, claimed the government now had the strength to defeat their terrorist enemies.

The head of the armed forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, also told the departing troops to be proud of their service.

He said: "Whatever debate continues about the lead-up to the invasion, whatever coalition mistakes were made along the way, we can be clear on one thing.

"The UK armed forces have made an outstanding contribution to the transition of Iraq from dictatorship and regional pariah to burgeoning democracy and constructive partner."

Critics of the war remembered that it began amid bitter controversy, with Tony Blair sending British troops to join those of his ally George W Bush despite the lack of a UN mandate for the invasion.

Saddam's alleged weapons of mass destruction, the main reason given for launching the war, were never found.

Kate Hudson, of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, called for the architects of the invasion to be put on trial. She added: "The illegality of the war on Iraq, and the crimes committed there, cannot be swept under the carpet."

The Stop the War Coalition claimed the "occupation" of southern Iraq had ended in "unmitigated disaster".

They said: "The British will leave Basra in a much worse condition than they found it, its population depleted and demoralised, its infrastructure devastated.

"Every death of a British serviceman or woman in this war has been a tragedy, made more acute by the pointlessness of the operation.

"But as the occupation finally comes to a close, it would be appropriate for the politicians who dragged Britain into war also to pay respect to the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have been killed by the US, Britain and their other allies."

COUNTING THE COST OF CONFLICT

IRAQ FACTFILE

Costs: £6.349billion - the audited figures for 2002-08. In Iraq and Afghanistan, since 2001, £13.2billion will have been spent by the end of the year. The NHS annual budget was £90billion in 2007-08.

Reconstruction: £744million from UK Government alone.

Deaths: 179 UK personnel by December 11, 2008. That includes one civilian. Of this number, 111 were killed in action, 25 died of wounds and 43 were due to illness, non-combat injuries or accidents.

Deployed: At the peak of major combat operations - 46,000. By September 2008, it was just 4100. Long-term commitment will be 350-400, providing specialist military training.

Training: So far, 585,000 members of the Iraqi security forces have been trained.

Medals: A total of 121,874 have been awarded - the most prestigious being the VC awarded to Pte Johnson Gideon Beharry of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

IMPROVEMENTS SINCE 2003

In 2003, only 23 per cent in Basra had piped water. Now, the total is 70 per cent.

200km of modern piping has been laid and over 5000 leaks repaired.

Extra electricity has been provided, equivalent to that needed for a city the size of Leeds.

65,000 homes have mains supply for the first time.

239,000 homes have a more reliable mains supply.

In 2003, 80 per cent of kids aged 7-13 years in Basra attended school. Total is now up 9.8 per cent - an extra 25,000 children.

In 2003, 49 per cent of kids aged 13-16 in Basra attended school. Total is now up 8.9 per cent - an extra 10,700.

61 primary and 18 secondary schools refurbished.

Doctors' salaries are up from around $30 a month under Saddam to $2000 a month.

Elections in January 2005 saw the first true democracy in Iraq for over three decades, and those in December 2005 saw a turnout of almost 80 per cent.